By Nathan Jones, Executive Director of The Craik-Patton House

The Craik-Patton House
photo by Ally Arwood
(Click on image to enlarge)

Enshrined in the American Alliance of Museums’ (AAM) Code of Ethics is the proclamation that “it is incumbent on museums to be resources for humankind and in all their activities to foster an informed appreciation of the rich and diverse world we have inherited.”

Long before this standard was adopted by a national coalition of museums, members of the National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in West Virginia recognized their responsibility to the public trust and set forth on a path that would manifest itself in the creation of an institution that offers a glimpse into our bountiful cultural inheritance: The Craik-Patton House.

Today, The Craik-Patton House Museum is one of nearly 200 museums operating within the state of West Virginia. The extraordinary feature that sets our institution apart from the others is the dedication and professionalism of its volunteer community, and their adherence to its corporate mission:

“To acquire and preserve for the public real or personal property having historical, genealogical, cultural, literary or education value, and to create and maintain a museum house, library and center for the collection, preservation, management, exhibition and study of such property and for such other activities of public interest and benefit as may arise.

To encourage and support research into and study of the history, genealogy and culture of the Kanawha Valley, the State of West Virginia and the United States of America, and the citizens thereof, thereby preserving knowledge of such history, genealogy and culture.”

Furthermore, the museum is an institution that was established specifically for the public benefit and is available to visitors year-round. Not only are our doors open to our neighbors within the state, but visitors from Oregon to Florida, and foreigners from countries in Europe and Central America, have graced our presence and left the Craik-Patton House knowing more about the details and the significance of West Virginia’s impact on the annals of United States history.

Given that our museum offers free guided tours of a fully furnished nineteenth-century home, docents are able to conduct adaptable experiences that are based on an individual’s personal interests and goes well beyond antiquarianism and decorative arts by illuminating the full breadth of social history as it relates to objects, biographies, experiences, and events. Oftentimes, on parting ways, visitors have commented that they learned much more during their brief tour at Craik-Patton than they picked up at much larger, less personal, institutions.

What makes the Craik-Patton House Museum so important in today’s world is that personal experience that we are able to provide visitors, whether they are history hobbyists, learned professionals, or generally curious about the beautiful Federal-style Greek Revival structure standing on the banks of the Great Kanawha River.

While the surge in popularity of virtually formatted programming and content provides never before experienced accessibility and necessary safeguards in illness prevention, it shall not entirely replace the benefits of stepping into a building as if you were taking a step back in time and enveloping yourself in a bygone era. The sensory experience alone inhibits our ability to process the magnitude of the information that is being shared by its presenter or docent.

The connectivity of a one-on-one experience is also unparalleled in that topics of conversation, as they relate to current events and popular trends, may be tailored in relation to the experiences of those who walked before us so that a more detailed understanding of our historical connectedness may influence our perspectives on matters as they relate to today, and, as they say, learn from history.

The actual structure that is the Craik-Patton House is not a shrine or monument; it is in essence and practice, an educational institution that harbors the preserved objects of yesteryear, the memories and experiences of our ancestors, and a medium for which we can share that rich and diverse world that we have inherited. Our governing principles are based on what is best for the community that we serve, adapting to cutting-edge research and insight into various fields of history, and malleable enough to meet the needs of the next generation.
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AAM Code of Ethics for Museums, Adopted 1993 by the AAM Board of Directors and amended in 2000
https://www.aam-us.org/programs/ethics-standards-and-professional-practices/code-of-ethics-for-museums/
Mitchell, James R. “Museums.” e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. 22 June 2021. Web. 16 December 2021.
http://www.wvencyclopedia.org/articles/1538
Article II, Section I, Subsections I & 2, Bylaws of Craik-Patton, Inc. Approved 05/08/2013